U.S. patent number 7,938,085 [Application Number 11/964,418] was granted by the patent office on 2011-05-10 for pet enclosure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ourpet's Co.. Invention is credited to Steven Tsengas.
United States Patent |
7,938,085 |
Tsengas |
May 10, 2011 |
Pet enclosure
Abstract
A pet enclosure comprising a floor panel, vertical sidewalls and
a top panel connected by means of extruded corner members to form a
rectangular box-like structure having two openings at opposite
ends. A front and a rear door panel is removably mounted to and
secured to the enclosure at the openings by means of pins that are
connected to a spring latch; they engage latch holes on the corner
members.
Inventors: |
Tsengas; Steven (Fairport
Harbor, OH) |
Assignee: |
Ourpet's Co. (Fairport Harbor,
OH)
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Family
ID: |
43928199 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/964,418 |
Filed: |
December 26, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60877622 |
Dec 29, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
119/498;
119/474 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K
1/034 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01K
1/03 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;119/498,474,491,492,499 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abbott; Yvonne R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gugliotta, P.E., Esq.; John D.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present applications is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
60/877,622 and it claims a benefit to ('622)'s Dec. 29, 2006 filing
date. The present application further incorporates all of the
subject matter of ('622) as if it fully rewritten herein.
Claims
Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and
desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:
1. An improved pet enclosure comprising four extruded corner
members, wherein each of said corner members comprise: receiving
channels that extend along the lengths of two adjacent sides of
said member; receiving slots positioned on both ends of said
receiving channels; and two latch holes opposing said channels on
the ends of one of the two adjacent sides not comprising said
channels; and three side panels formed of a woven, flexible,
non-porous material; a floor panel; and a front and a rear door
panel formed of a woven, flexible, non-porous material, wherein
said three side panels and said floor panel combine to define two
openings in which said door panels are removably secured.
2. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein engaging rails
extend along lengths of said side panels and said floor panel.
3. The improved pet enclosure of claim 2, wherein two of said side
panels are perpendicularly connected along their lengths to one
another by means of said engaging rail engaging said receiving slot
and traveling along said adjacent channel on said corner
member.
4. The improved pet enclosure of claim 3, wherein the plurality of
said side panels connect to define two openings formed along the
widths of said panels at opposing ends of said enclosure.
5. The improved pet enclosure of claim 4, wherein said front and
said rear door panels are mounted to and removably secured to said
enclosure at said openings by means of pins positioned on four
spring latches that engage said latch holes on said corner
members.
6. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein two of said side
panels are perpendicularly connected along their lengths to one
another by means of said engaging rail engaging said receiving slot
and traveling along said adjacent channel on said corner
member.
7. The improved pet enclosure of claim 6, wherein the plurality of
said side panels connect to define two openings formed along the
widths of said panels at opposing ends of said enclosure.
8. The improved pet enclosure of claim 7, wherein said front and
said rear door panels are mounted to and removably secured to said
enclosure at said openings by means of pins positioned on four
spring latches that engage said latch holes on said corner
members.
9. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein said woven,
flexible, non-porous is a plastic having the appearance of natural
rattan or wicker.
10. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein said side panels
comprise a ventilation opening to provide fresh air to the pet
housed in said enclosure.
11. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein said front and
said rear door panel comprise a ventilation opening to provide
fresh air to the pet housed in said enclosure.
12. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein said three side
panels and said floor panel are generally flat and rectangular.
13. The improved pet enclosure of claim 1, wherein said corner
members are provided both for said side panels and said floor panel
to be removably connected to one another in an assembled
configuration and for the parts of said enclosure to be
disassembled for compact storage.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a field of pet
enclosures and, more particularly, to a pet enclosure having six
panels that easily and speedily assemble and disassemble by means
of four corner members.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are many advantages to pet enclosures used to contain
domestic animals in the home. One advantage includes an enclosing
of rowdy or teething pets when owners are not present to supervise
them. A disadvantage to these enclosures is that their unaesthetic
appearance causes them to be placed in areas hidden from the
family. Pets are discouraged from treating these enclosures as a
desired safe place; their interaction with family is limited if
they treat the enclosure as a safe place. Pet enclosures varying is
size, material, shape and design are marketed to overcome these
non-aesthetic designs, wherein they are desired to be more
complimentary to standard home decors. The designs have expanded to
include may advantage functions, such as a convenient assembly and
disassembly for all of cleaning, storage and transport
purposes.
A search of the prior art reveals no patents that read directly on
the claims of the instant invention; however, the following
reference is considered related: the collapsible pet enclosure of
U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,138, to Simpson, which discloses a pet
enclosure comprising a variety of panels having a stranded material
woven onto a substantially rigid frame. The panels hingedly connect
to one another to form an opening in which a door is pivotally
mounted to either swing inwardly and outwardly or to close by means
of a latch. The enclosure further comprises both a floor panel
having a plurality of legs to support the floor from a distance
above the underlying surface and a channel for receiving a
cooperating base portion. The enclosure can be easily set up and
folded for use or it can be unfolded to a flat position for storage
and transport.
There are several disadvantages to the pet enclosure disclosed in
Simpson: (1) the enclosure can be unfolded to a flat position for
cleaning purposes, but the unfolded position is too space consuming
for convenient storage; (2) the enclosure requires tools for
assembly and disassembly; and, (3) the doorway swings outwards by
means of a hinge that precludes the enclosure's placement along
walls adjacent to the hinge.
Thus, a need is long felt for an improved pet enclosure that
easily, speedily and repeatedly assembles and disassembles into a
compact state for cleaning, transport and storage purposes and,
more specifically, to a pet enclosure that provides for door panels
to be removably mounted to and secured to the openings formed along
the widths of panels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy and a
speedy way to both assemble and to disassemble the six panels of an
improved pet enclosure having an aesthetic design.
It is a feature of the present invention to comprise four extruded
corner members, each member having two channels along its lengths
on adjacent sides and receiving slots at the channels' ends.
It is a further feature of the present invention to comprise a
rectangular floor panel, two rectangular vertical sidewalls and a
rectangular top panel having engaging rails along their lengths
which travel along the channels and connect to the panels.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present
invention, the floor panel, vertical sidewalls and the top panel
are connected by means of extruded corner members to form a
rectangular box-like structure having two openings at opposite
ends. A front and a rear door panel is removably mounted to and
secured to the enclosure at the openings by means of pins that are
connected to a spring latch and they engage latch holes on the
corner members.
It is an advantage to the present invention to comprise a floor
panel that can be easily removed for cleaning as opposed to one
comprising a channel to house a removable base portion.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide for a
six step assembly that requires no tools and no heavy labor.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide easy
disassembly for cleaning and compact storage.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide for an
improved pet enclosure comprising components that are inexpensive
to manufacture.
It is another feature of the present invention to manufacture the
components from non-porous materials that don't absorb malicious
pet odors.
It is another feature of the present invention to provide
ventilation designs on the panels to provide to the pet light and
fresh air.
It is a final feature of the present invention to provide for an
improved pet enclosure that is aesthetically appealing and
compliments any home decor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The advantages and the features of the present invention are better
understood with reference to the following and the more detailed
description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols,
and in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fully assembled pet enclosure
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2a is an elevational view of an extruded corner member
according to the invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2b is an alternate elevational view of the interior sides of
the extruded corner member;
FIG. 2c is an alternate elevational view of the exterior sides of
the extruded corner member, wherein latch holes are positioned on a
first of the two exterior sides;
FIG. 2d is an alternate elevational view of the extruded corner
member, wherein latch holes are positioned on a second of the two
exterior sides;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a sidewall, wherein the sidewall
functions as a top panel or one of two vertical sidewalls;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the top of the floor panel;
and,
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a door panel, wherein door panels
are placed on the front and the rear of the pet enclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms
of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the
Figures.
1. Detailed Description of the Figures
An improved pet enclosure 10 is shown in FIG. 1 according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. To achieve the
objectives of the present invention, FIGS. 2-5 show a plurality of
elements that assemble together to comprise the improved pet
enclosure 10. According to the preferred embodiment, a fully
assembled pet enclosure 10 comprises four corner members 20, three
rectangular sidewalls 30, a floor panel 40, and a front 50a and a
rear 50b door panel. In the assembled position, two sidewalls 30
stand vertically and parallel to one another. The lengths of a
third sidewall 30 (top panel) and a floor panel 40 lay in between
and perpendicular to the lengths of the vertical sidewalls 30. The
door panels 50a, 50b stand upright and are perpendicular to the
side panels 30 and the floor panel 40. A generally rectangular box
is thereby formed.
FIGS. 2a-2d show alternative views of the four extruded corner
members 20 that are positioned horizontally when the improved pet
enclosure is fully assembled. The four corner members 20 are
provided to fasten the three sidewalls 30 and the floor panel 40
shown in FIG. 1 together. This is accomplished by means of two
receiving channels 22 that run an entire length of the corner
members 20. The two receiving channels 22 are positioned on
adjacent sides. Both ends of each member comprise receiving slots
24 that receive engaging rails positioned on the sidewalls. The
four members 20 shown in FIGS. 2a-2d are identical for purposes of
this disclosure, except that they comprise latch holes 26
positioned in different locations to receive latches on either the
front 50a or the rear 50b panel. The latch holes 26 are positioned
on both ends of one of the two exterior sides 20a, 20b of the
extruded corner member opposing the interior sides having channels
22. When the improved pet enclosure is fully assembled, the latch
holes 22 face outwards from the exterior of the vertical sides 20a,
20b of the corner members 20 so that the front and the rear door
panels can be easily secured and removed.
FIG. 2a shows an interior of an extruded corner member 20, wherein
the member secures the top and the right panels. FIG. 2b shows an
alternate embodiment of an extruded corner member 20, wherein the
member secures the right panel to the floor panel. FIG. 2c shows
the first of two exterior sides 20a of an extruded corner member 20
comprising latch holes 22, wherein the member secures the top panel
to the left panel. FIG. 2d shows an alternate of an extruded corner
member 20, wherein the second exterior side 20b comprises the latch
holes 22 and the corner member 20 secures the left panel to the
floor panel.
FIG. 3 shows a wicker sidewall 30 according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, wherein a fully assembled pet
enclosure comprises three identical rectangular sidewalls 30: one
provided to function as a top panel and two provided to function as
vertical panels. A ventilation opening 34 is defined on each
sidewall to provide fresh air to the pet housed in the enclosure
and to provide light to the pet. The wicker sidewall comprises two
opposing engaging rails 32 along its length. The engaging rails 32
enter the receiving slot 24 and travel the channels 22 positioned
on the corner members 20 shown in FIGS. 2A-2D.
FIG. 4 shows a view of the inside of the rectangular floor panel 40
according to the preferred embodiment, wherein the floor panel 40
similarly comprises two opposing engaging rails 42 along its
length.
FIG. 5 shows an exterior of one of the two wicker door panels 50,
square in shape. Both door panels 50a, 50b are fastened to the
front and to the rear of the fully assembled pet enclosure 10
(shown in FIG. 1). The door panels comprise four spring return
latches 52 that extend inwards from the four corners. The latches
52 comprise pins 54 that engage the latch holes 26 positioned on
the corner members 20a, 20b (shown in FIGS. 2c-2d. The latches 52
are provided to fasten the door members 50 to the sidewalls. The
door panels 50a, 50b are removably secured to the enclosure 10 so
that pets can crawl in and out of the internal space formed by the
panels.
2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
The improved pet enclosure is easily and speedily assembled and
disassembled for convenient transport and storage. No tools are
required for assembly. When assembled, the floor panel forms the
base portion of the enclosure and it is preferably formed of or
coated with a rubber, plastic or other soft material to prevent
marring of the floor or the other underlying support surface. The
two vertical sidewalls are secured to the floor panel by means of
corner members. The top panel is also secured to the two sidewalls
by means of corner members. As assembled thus far, two openings are
formed along the widths of the four panels at opposing ends of the
enclosure. The door panels are mounted to and secured to the
enclosure at these openings by means of a latch that engages latch
holes positioned on the corner members.
Each panel preferably comprises strands or sheets of flexible,
non-porous material, such as thermoplastic extruded resin, having
the appearance of natural rattan or wicker and, more specifically,
extrusion strands of high-density polyethylene having both a
yellow, a tan or a brown color and one or more lines or patterns.
It is preferable that the extrusion strands have a visibly darker
or a lighter shade of yellow, tan or brown color coextruded
therewith, or otherwise applied thereon, along the axis of the
strand. A diameter or a width of the strands is 3/32'' and it
optionally comprises one or more serrations or surface
irregularities extruded along the axis thereof. It is anticipated
that these serrations both reduce glare and provide a more natural
appearance. The panels may be woven with either a decorative
pattern or a decorative design to further improve the aesthetics of
the enclosure. The improved enclosures can vary in size to
accommodate the size of the pet.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present
invention are presented for purposes of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best
explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It
is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
Claims appended hereto and to their equivalents. Therefore, the
scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following
claims.
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